Date: April 7, 2009                                                                                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

 Jon Schulz Is Crowned Champion
 Schulz Defeats Van Wieren & Klingenberg for National Championship

DETROIT (AP)— In an epic overtime/tie-breaker championship, Jon Schulz edges out Brian Klingenberg and Meredith Van Wieren to capture the 2009 PYX Basketball title. All three pickers ended up with 103 points, but it was Schulz who had picked more correct games throughout the tournament. Jon picked 49 games right, Brian had 48 while Meredith takes third place by picking 45 games correct.

Jon now joins fellow HAMILTONIAN Brent Van Wieren as the only two pickers to win both a PYX Bowl and a March Madness Championship. Van Wieren won the Basketball tournament in 2004 and then took home the PYX Bowl VIII trophy in 2007. Jon was the champion of the very first PYX Bowl way back in 2000. Now he can add another trophy to the mantle as he solidifies he place in the PYX Hall of Fame.

The top ten was filled with perennial powers. Rosenau, Chauv, Sova, Thome, Van Wieren and Sandoval have all been in the finals in either Basketball or Football at one time or another throughout their picking careers. But the surprise of the season has to be Derek Kronemeyer from Hamilton. In his rookie season, he takes 7th place out of 51 pickers!! We hope to see Derek in the Fall for football season.

Here are the Final Top Ten Standings after calculating all of the tie-breakers:
 

1. Jon Schulz 103
2 Brian Klingenberg 103
3 Meredith Van Wieren 103
4 Kevin Rosenau 101
5 Kyle Chauv 100
6 Rachelle Sova 100
7 Derek Kronemeyer 100
8 Joe Thome 100
9 Brent Van Wieren 99
10 Kevin Sandoval 93

Over all, most of the sports casters and most of the pickers in the league went with the North Carolina Tarheels. As we look back at this season, we can say that it was really no surprise to see Roy Williams and the boys cutting down the nets. UNC was the preseason pick and they followed through as planned.

Next year should be a lot of fun as we'll see Calipari leaving Memphis for Kentucky, Tim Floyde staying at USC, Michigan State bringing back a core of good players, UNC losing most of their starters, Kansas getting a whole lot stronger with everyone returning, and maybe seeing Calhoun stepping down at UConn.

As for the PYX, we will see how many people sign up for the Football Season and we are contemplating expanding beyond 32 teams. This will be discussed and voted on this summer at the Annual PYX Summit. Please stay tuned as we make preparations for the Summit this summer.

Congratulations to JON SCHULZ the 2009 PYX Basketball Champion!!!

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Great Job Meredith Van Wieren

Great job, Meredith Van Wieren. Wow...she lead all the way right down the to the end. If MSU would have won, Meredith would have been crowned champion and that would have set a new PYX record...Her and husband Brent would have been the first husband and wife team to win a PYX Championship.

Great job Meredith...so close. She is definitely in the running for The PYX Rookie of the Year award.

Click Here For The Complete Final Standings